Criminal gangs still travelling to rural Yorkshire for illegal hare coursing as calls made for tougher penalties for the bloodsport

Hare coursing is an illegal blood sport outlawed under the Hunting Act 2004, in which dogs are raced against one another in pursuit of a hare before catching and killing it.

But one farmer from rural Yorkshire said criminal gangs were still travelling to the area to compete in the sport, while often trespassing on private land to do so.

The farmer from East Yorkshire, who wanted to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, said: “Criminals involved in this illegal activity – which is banned - often threaten landowners and damage property.

"These criminal gangs are still travelling to our area, trespassing on private farmland to chase hares with dogs. The only way to stop these criminals is to report any suspicious activity to the police.”

Police and conservationists are now calling for tougher consequences for those caught hare coursing, with many getting away with small fines of a few hundred pounds.

Countryside alliance the CLA claims this is not enough to deter criminals from the sport, while police say they are running operations to catch perpetrators and would welcome tougher legislation.

North Yorkshire Police, which oversees some of the biggest areas of rural land of any force, says it has sent out 22 notices to people believed to be involved in hare coursing since the beginning of August alone. But with the sport's popularity rising in the Autumn and Winter months, this figure is expected to rise.

These notices are the first stage of police response before issuing Community Protection Notices – a relatively recent piece of legislation, designed to deal with ‘persistent and unreasonable behaviour having a detrimental effect on the quality of life in the local community’.

“Poachers have absolutely no regard for farmers and landowners," said Inspector Matt Hagen, who is head of the force's Rural Taskforce.

"Our officers, some of whom have farming backgrounds, know the dreadful impact hare coursing has on rural communities. This illegal activity can cause extensive damage to crops, fields and fences – and leave victims in fear of violence and retaliation."

The CLA says it has created an "action plan" outlining how rural residents and farmers can help combat the crime, including specific sentencing guidelines for hare coursing and more resources for wildlife policing units.

The authority's North Adviser Libby Bateman said: “Fines imposed under the Hunting Act are unlimited, yet too often they amount to just a few hundred pounds. This is not an effective deterrent for a lucrative crime perpetrated by criminal gangs. The police are able to seize vehicles and dogs – both of which would have a direct impact on hare coursers.

“Police forces have the power to tackle these criminals but they need evidence to catch perpetrators and bring them to justice. This is why we encourage people to record and report any suspicious activity to the police."

The CLA also wants to see registered hare coursing offenders registered on the Police National Computer database to increase likelihood of prosecutions and tougher penalties.

Luke Steele, Spokesperson for Ban Bloodsports on Yorkshire’s Moors, said: “Our dedicated monitors are operating in wildlife crime hotspots across Yorkshire for the first time this autumn to detect, document and deter illegal hare hunting. All evidence will be handed to the police.

“The message to anybody considering joining an illegal hare hunt is clear: don’t. You could find yourself in court with a hefty fine and criminal record.”

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